Off the Grid (5 page)

“Sounds busy.”

He hadn’t even noticed, but both Andre and Frank had both disappeared.
How does a guy that big move so silently? I didn’t notice he was standing there, and I didn’t notice him leaving. Damn. Andre either. No fucking clue when he took off.

“It is,” Danny answered, his eyes swinging from monitor to monitor. “But I freaking love it.”

Ciana came over, holding a silver disk. She motioned for his hand and gently place the device on his palm. “This is the prototype I was telling you about.”

He studied it. “Can you make it black?”

“Uh, sure.” She frowned. “Why?”

“I would imagine it would be harder to see or notice if it was matte black instead of shiny silver, and it’ll also look more like a puck. Less harmful, you know?”

“I like people who appreciate my inventions,” Ciana said. “The only problem is the pods are color-coded,” she pointed out some sort of light on the top, “and I’m not sure how that would go with the black. But I’ll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.”

Ethan simply nodded, not sure what she expected him to say to that. Ciana took the pod back, her lips pursed, and Ethan hoped he hadn’t said something wrong.

“Why don’t we go downstairs and you can see the living quarters?” Maline suggested.

Ethan followed her down another flight of stairs. They exited the door at the bottom and Ethan looked around. Hallways extended both in front of them and to the right. Closed doors with simple numbers were scattered along each wall on the outside of the corridor. A few doors, most of which were open, were on the inside. Patterned carpeting ran along the entire hallway, and the walls were basic beige. The place had the feel of a hotel, and Ethan had seen those enough to last a lifetime.

“Not bad,” he remarked, just so he wasn’t standing there like an idiot.

“It really isn’t. We have twelve living quarters down here; we’re currently using ten. We’re a little short-staffed at the moment.” She walked forward. “Stumpy, you around?”

A man came out of what Ethan assumed to be the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel before slinging it over his shoulder.

“New guy?” he asked.

“He’s considering joining us, yes.”

“Excellent. We need all the help we can get.”

Maline turned toward Ethan. “Like I said, this is Stumpy.” Stumpy pointed down at the artificial limb on one leg. “He cooks and keeps the common areas clean. He’s also our resident doctor. He’s not officially a doctor, but served as a medic in his squadron for four years before an IED got them.”

“I’m sorry,” Ethan murmured.

“No biggie. I was starting to hate sand anyway.” The words were obviously meant as a joke, but Ethan couldn’t help but wonder how the man really felt about that happening.

“But you live in Miami now,” Ethan stuttered.

Stumpy grinned. “I avoid the beaches.”

“There’s an eating and relaxing area over there past the kitchen,” Maline said. “We also sometimes use the room for briefings or strategizing. And then this side is usually quieter. Each person has their own space unless it gets crowded for some reason, and you’re welcome to bring in most whatever you’d like to make yourself more comfortable.”

“And you’ll want to do that,” Stumpy added. “Trust me. Whoever originally designed this place did it like a bunker.” He grinned at Maline, whose eyes narrowed.

“Andre and I did the plans, as you very well know.”

“Yep.” Stumpy did not appear the least bit remorseful, and Maline hadn’t seemed to take offense.
Weird dynamic here.

“As I was saying, the rooms are furnished, but we can change items out as necessary. For instance, Frank, as I’m sure you noticed, is a large fellow, so we got him a bed that could accommodate his size. Many of our people have art, televisions, or other possessions to personalize their area.” Maline then turned on her heel and Ethan suspected she’d been in the military before this just from her mannerisms.

Waving, Stumpy said, “Dinner in about thirty, Mal.”

Maline nodded. As they headed down another flight of stairs, Maline said, “Stumpy’s allowed to call me that. No one else.” The next door opened into a huge room filled with exercise equipment of every shape and size, mirrors, mats, a boxing ring, and a bunch of equipment Ethan couldn’t even begin to guess the use of. “Our training center. The operatives need to stay in tip-top shape, and without ID it’s tough to even get into public health clubs, nor would we want to.”

“I can see that being a problem.”

Ethan was already starting to think about all the places where and ways it would be tough to be invisible. For instance, did the goons do all the driving, or did the operatives get fake driver’s licenses?
Jeez, I’m already calling them operatives.

“This is where you’d do most of your training, though you’d go out to the Everglades with some of the boys to do outdoor exercises. Survival-type stuff. Hopefully you would never need it, but we believe in being thorough.”

“You’ve really got a well-thought-out setup here.”

“Well,” Maline beamed for the first time since Ethan had known her.
She must be really proud of this place.
“If you want to be the best, you have to train as best you can, live as best you can, and use the best technology and human minds you can.”

“True.”

“Past this room is our gun range and weapons storage. You’ll see those later if you join us. Got to keep some secrets.”

A man of Asian descent dropped from an odd-looking piece of equipment, efficiently flipping on the way down to land on his feet nearly silently, and approached. “Tell me we’re getting some help.”

“We’re not sure yet,” Maline glanced at Ethan. “I’m showing Ethan around.”

“Good to meet you, I’m Stretch.” He stuck out his hand and Ethan shook it. “Good grip, man.”

“You mean like John Stretch, from The Breakfast Club?” Stretch definitely looked older than Ethan, probably by around ten years, with gray hairs almost matching the number of dark hairs on his head and his goatee.

“Nah. Stretch, like a person who can bend. I can slide into just about anywhere. Before I joined this circus, I worked for an actual circus, doing acrobatic stuff. Andre saw a video of me, and then wouldn’t leave me alone till I said I’d come work for him.”

“Andre can be very persistent,” Maline told Ethan.

“Anyway, I hope you do join the team. We’re down bodies, well, live ones, anyway, and we need more. Shit, did I just scare you? Not many die, at least not us, not the good guys.”

With a quick side glance at Ethan, Maline said, “Let’s go back up to my office. Andre should be finished with his briefing and he’ll join us.”

They hoofed it back up to the top floor and Maline stopped in Andre’s office. Andre immediately rose and followed them. This time, they sat at a circular table, with Maline and Andre next to each other and Ethan on the other side.

“How did you like the facility?” Andre asked.

“What’s not to like, besides the lack of windows?”

“We don’t lock you inside twenty-four hours a day, Ethan. In fact, most of our team went for a run on the beach this morning since we still don’t have the intelligence we need. Obviously, as we spoke about in the van, we’ll have to change your appearance if you decide this life is what you want. We’ve arranged a safe place for you to sleep tonight. Our men will take you there.” She handed him a card and a phone. “This is a throwaway phone and here’s a hat to hide your face. Call me tomorrow. I hate to rush you, but we’ll need a decision soon if we’re going to help you with your situation.”

“I understand, and thank you.” Ethan took that as his cue and followed them when they rose.

Maline held out her hand. “We have high hopes for you.” They shook and Ethan took a deep breath.

Andre also shook his hand and then they walked out of the office. The man he’d seen standing guard near the door to the stairs outside earlier was waiting. Ethan nodded to Ciana, who’d looked up. Danny didn’t even glance at him, his eyes still darting between the various monitors. Ethan turned back toward the door and followed the man up the stairs. Soon he’d arrived at a small apartment and after making some dinner from the food he found in the kitchen, he sat on the floor in front of the couch, scarfing it down, as his mind whirled in a million different directions.

After who knew how long, Ethan startled as a realization hit him. Carolina wasn’t home, this shitty apartment certainly wasn’t home. But Underground; it felt like home to him already.

And his new life would begin there. He grabbed the cheap, no-contract cell phone they’d given him and made the call.

About the Author:

Cassandra Carr is a romance writer whose work has been praised by many prominent publishing industry media outlets such as 
Publisher's Weekly 
and 
Romantic Times. 
Her books have won several "Best Of" awards. Her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT's 2013 Reviewers' Choice Awards. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online.

She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex while most others struggle with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers. Her inspiration comes from everywhere, but she'd particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart.

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Praise for Cassandra Carr:

~Caught~

Named Best BDSM Book 2011 by LoveRomancesCafe

"5 hearts! I loved seeing the relationship from Jack's perspective and experiencing his doubts about himself. Very refreshing in the BDSM genre. The sex is steamy hot and their connection intense."

~ The Romance Studio

"The sex scenes in this book were not only true to form for the BDSM lifestyle, but they were hot enough to keep me wanting to read more and more. Not only did the storyline draw you in, but the mix of the BDSM lifestyle would overheat anyone!"

~ JustEroticRomanceReviews

~
Master Class (related book to Caught)~

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick; Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews True Gem; Jeep Diva Revved Up Read; Romance Novel News Recommended Read

“The writing was fresh and fun and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. … It was a story that was perfectly written and perfectly told.”

~Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

"Master Class is emotional without being overly angsty and touching without an excess of external drama. It’s one of the best new contemporary BDSM romances I’ve read this year."

~ Seductive Musings

~Unexpected Top~

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick; Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews True Gem; Jeep Diva Revved Up Read; Long and Short Reviews 5-star Read

“The premise of Cassandra Carr’s Unexpected Top is a unique variation of a couple’s entrée into a female-led relationship. Readers who are curious about or involved in the BDSM lifestyle likely will find the realistically portrayed scenarios in Unexpected Top interesting and erotic.”

~ BDSM Book Reviews

~
Should’ve Known Better (Storm Series, Book 1)~

#1 Best Seller in Sports Romance
 

“Cassandra Carr never disappoints. Having read several of her books, she is a must read author and one we highly recommend and Should've Known Better fits right in there…. I seriously hope that Cassandra Carr writes more books based with this hockey team. I love a good hockey story with romance mixed in and as she is such a talented writer it would be a pleasure to read more…. I loved the characters and storyline so much that I finished it quickly just absorbing everything.”

~ Illustrious Illusions

~Underneath It All (Storm Series, Book 2)~

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick

“A fun story about meeting someone special and falling in love. I enjoyed the banter between the guys on the team and all their rituals before the hockey games.”

~ Cocktails and Books

~Turnaround (Red Hot Valentine Series)~

“I liked how the author allowed both of them to be realistic about the relationship. Truly enjoyed this one - characters were developed within an interesting plot. Cassandra Carr has another fan! I could not put my kindle down! Perfect for Valentine's Day.”

~ A Drunken Druid

~
Talk to Me~

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick; The Romance Reviews Top Pick

“What really makes the book good, for me, is that [Carr] really gets what makes erotic romance good. I’m compiling a list of erotic romance authors that really get the concept of the genre, and based on this book, I think Cassandra Carr will be on that list.”

~ The Pen & Muse Reviews

~
See the Light (Safe Harbor, Book 1)~

The Jeep Diva Revved Up Read

“Some parts of the book that really brought forth emotions that I was not expecting from a book in this genre and I completely loved that fact! But I thought that the author wrote them very well and you were able to connect emotionally with the characters while they were going through something horrible.”